Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-01-20


DEAR Bom-l have been in Montana
nearly thrc.. weeks and, actually, this is
the first chance have had to write n line
to any one. You know made up my mind
to be "a cowboy before left. and got n job
from the first foreman spoke to on the
reminds me that they sell saddles by the
pound out here; orinrtancc, n forty pound
saddle costs forty dollars. I thing Mr..
Whittcmorc asked me- too much Tor my
saddle, for it only wei .hs four pounds aud
costs five dollars. have to sleep with my
saddle under my pillow every night. for
the foreman told me il woud be- stolen
Il left it laying around. which is very AN
hoying.
The cowboys all wear leather leyyins like
overalls with the shoulder cut out. I
got a pair but mine arcan improved kind
am told, for the front is cut out aud
there are two hip pockets to them. I ere
ate quite sensation when ride out with
the boys. hut they all admire the new
style. Almost all the cowboys are natives
of the same state and they all regret com
Ing west. and say that as soon ~ they
can accumulate sufficient money they will
90 back to Missouri. u they got as good
wages US ! do they would have no trouble,
for out "f my SIS per month can easily
save S1i.TS. bat the common cowboy gets
only $50 per month, and ! am told that
il takes almost all their wages to keep
them in white shirts and Derby hats. Di.-
couragins, isn't il? As TO drinking and
gambling. it il almost unknown, as I AN
told. for all Of the boys signed pledge
not to drink any thing stronger than
''shecp-dip." which is probably greatly like
the cream soda We used to drink at but
tercuI,s, and about the only game of cards
have seen since being here is ~ simple
game called ''acc in the hole" and the boys
only make believe to bet. I lost SO and
the fellow said he would give IL back to- me
but then he said no".tts;"s about ''"han
he harvested his mavericks" which I did
not exactly understand. ! rode one fore
noon with the 'round-aibout" aud enjoyed
it immensely but found that could not
carry anything in the hip pockets of my
t'v-iir tot u tIstieu tH' r'tuitt 81. Sot
oil to pick some flowers and my pony ran
away. ! could not catch him but did not
care much for prefer walking aud would
have had ~ pleasant stroll il il had not
been for the cattle. ! was really afraid of
them, ior th : held their tail, right up and
ran after me in very vicious manner. but
| beat them into camp. That afternoon
the boss gave me very rcsstivc horse to
ride and il took two or three of my com
panions to mold him while ! carcssrl hin,
and 'climbcd his hump rs they say, and
really the expression is quite appropriate,
for h- seemed dcfornlcd, with his back
| carved and his legs all sprawlcd out. Well,
they lct him loose and he plunged and
plunged until ! was afraid that he would
get away, when ! got of aud held on to II
rope that was fastened to "a leather thing
"n his Nose and managed to sto, him, but
be- dragged me into a fearful mess Of cactus
before he quit. They accused me of being
suick-tcmperc,,, and said that | should not
| get mad and get off that way.
Since then have been helping the cook
ahd like my job very well, and any way
they say that riding makes n person bow
begged. Hoping to hear from you soon aud
resting assured that you will let all th,
boys know how well ! am doing, remain
Yours.
1 toMEi.ATri.Y.